Mind, Body & Spirit Reading with Shadowscapes-things to think about. I lay the cards out top to bottom and turn them over one at a time. No reversals-none are even discussed in the card descriptions with this deck.
Mind - Eight of Swords
A beautiful swan is surrounded by eight Swords and thorny brambles. The skeletons of others who have found themselves in the same place are under her feet. Her wings are spread out and she looks skyward at a hummingbird that hovers above her.
Looking at this card, I feel that the skeletons aren't "others", but previous times that I've felt this way, trapped, imprisoned by my thoughts - the self-critic that resides deep and tempts me with old unproductive habits(ways of thinking) that are a waste of my time and energies - at the first sign of weakness. The hummingbird is a symbol(for me) of taking small steps toward my "vision self", the woman I envision as my goal.
~From the book~ "The Eight of Swords is a reminder not to waste energy on the trivial. It is easy to freeze up in a crisis - to feel restricted, confused, powerless, and trapped by circumstances - but there is always a way out if you take a moment to breathe and reassess." While not a crisis for me, I feel that the time for change, creating my "vision self" is now, that the timing is right for this.
Body - The Hanged Man. The Hanged Man suspends himself, unbound, hanging by his knees from a gnarled tree branch. He's reaching his arms back and up toward his heels, free to change his position anytime. He chooses to be here doing this.
The thing about this card that is most apparent to me tonight(reading was done last night), is that "he has" the choice to move. For now, for whatever reason, he's chosen not to. And that's exactly where I seem to be, making the choice not to, coming up with reasons(excuses) for not doing enough, not moving forward.
Spirit - The Devil
What a unique Devil image. The woman chained in the pod/shell was what first drew my eye. She's crouched down, her right arm wrapped around her legs, the left around the back of her neck. Her head rests on her knees. The Devil is a skeletal looking winged faerie, dancing on top of the pod/shell. A red heart is suspended between his/her hands.
Tonight, for me, this card represents making the right choices for myself, in my spirituality as well as mundane decisions. I try too hard to look at all sides of a situation and find myself imprisoned by the lists of pros and cons. I make a decision, then doubt myself, knowing I had other choices. I put things off because of indecision to the point where time and circumstances take the decision away from me, and I just live with the consequences. Right now, I'm in that pod/shell cowering as the Devil of Decision dances overhead. I've got to learn to trust myself more and stop living in the limbo of indecision. (Don't ever go the ice cream parlor with me, if they offer more than vanilla and chocolate ;p)
~~Reading with this deck is a pleasure. I love the images and colors, and there are many creatures that join the main characters of the cards. Even as I learn to trust my intuition more, I still like to read the different descriptions and meanings that the artists/authors give for the cards. While not as serious and spiritual as the Druidcraft is, I'm finding depth in the images. Yet, I imagine this deck could be read with a lighthearted view as well.
I still want to do the New Deck Interview Spread with Shadowscapes and tomorrow night is the New Moon, so I'll be reading the New Moon Spread that Eowyn created. This spread and it's sister spread Full Moon Spread are both excellent spreads to do on an ongoing basis every month.
I've been sneaking in some daily draws with The Heart of Faerie Oracle, too. This is another deck I'm really enjoying working with, even though my experience outside the framework of tarot is very limited. I don't normally read for others, but I've been participating in a few monthly reading exchanges in the Oracles Forums as well, not doing too bad(I think).
Well, time to go plant some pansies, my Grandmother always called them monkey-faces, and stand where my veggie garden will be this summer and dream!
~Thanks For Stopping By~ Leigh
2 comments:
As always, I learn so much from how you express the meanings of the cards, and your description of the imagery is splendid! I could SEE that pod!
Interestingly, I have just met The Hanged Man, last night, and the first thing which came into my mind was another perspective and seeing things from both sides now. Since he is unbound (like in your card) if he is punishing himself, it is of his own free will; but then so would putting oneself in that position to learn, and grow.
Peace,
Shire
The Hanged Man is one card that visits me often, and he has much to teach. Each time I see different aspects of choice, free will, suspension of self and time.
:) Leigh
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